A few years ago, I began seeing a new type of wrecker on the streets. Instead of the old winch type these had a cross piece that went under the car for more stability.
Every time I come up behind one like this one that I saw yesterday I think what a perfect visual example of the work of the cross of Jesus Christ. People make wrecks of their lives in so many different ways. Sometimes it’s through out and out sin and sometimes it’s through poor decision making. Thank goodness that God doesn’t abandon us completely to the consequences of our bad actions. Instead God sent his son to provide salvation and a new direction for our life. 1 Peter 2:24 says “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” The name on this wrecker was “Recovery, Inc.” Again how appropriate for a message on the cross! Through the work of the cross we recover some of the image of God in which we were created. Through faith in Jesus Christ many people who are recovering from addictions to drugs or alcohol are finding help and new lives of sobriety. Jesus had to carry his cross on that sad day. Before that, in a foreshadowing of what was to come Jesus said, to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” And yet it is the cross that carries us in so many ways out of the wreckage and into a place where we can find recovery, new life and wholeness. Thanks be to God!
Thank you, Lord for saving us from ourselves. We get ourselves into scrapes and sometimes major wrecks because we take our eyes off you who are the pathway to a successful life. Help us to find reminders like this one that no matter how large a mess we make, you will be there with us if we call upon you. We ask this in the name of the one who carried his cross so that his cross could carry us. Amen.
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